Save the date. Join us for a tour of artist Jose Ramirez’s abundant food forest in City Terrace. You must RSVP to participate. We will be organizing carpools. Email transitionculvercity@gmail.com to reserve a space. More details to follow.

There’s a drought , you’ve heard about it, so what better time to lose the lawn and replace it with a more sustainable garden. Join us for planting fun and community. Learn how to get rid of your lawn the Transition way…with a party!

This homeowner’s yard has been sheet mulched, so we will be digging holes and planting California natives. Bring gloves, work shoes, shovel and/or trowel, hat. Lunch will be provided.

Why build a compost pile? Well, you can extend your efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle by composting: reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill; reuse newspapers, paper napkins, coffee filters and tea bags; recycle the endless stream of veggie waste.

Tina’s got a brand new bin. Let’s help her set it up. Learn how to choose a location for a compost pile. What goes into a bin? How to maintain it? We’ll put together a compost pile and then enjoy snacks and camaraderie and swap some stories.

Bring water bottle, gloves and a shovel (with your name on it), if you have them.

Transition Culver City and Art Lee, founder of Skillbulder meet-up group are offering a Greywater Installation workshop, where you’ll learn to install a laundry-to-landscape-according-to-code conversion.

As everyone knows, water is probably the most important resource for every living species on our planet. Instead of dumping your water back to the sewer system and into the ocean, learn how to double the usage of your water and grow your fruit trees and perennials! This also saves you money by reducing your water usage.

The class will cover all the information you need to install a system at your home, to L.A. County code specifications.

A little about our instructor, Art Lee…..On his Skillbuilders meet-up site, Art provides the following description of himself:

Sew-In: Celebrating the advent of the Plastic Bag Ban in Culver City

Where: Don Patacchia room next to the council chambers at Culver City Hall,

9770 Culver Blvd. Culver City 90230

Entrance to Free Parking on Duquesne Ave.

Many of you have .worked to ban plastic bags in the City of LA and Culver City. Here’s a chance to raise awareness about Culver City’s new plastic bag ban which takes effect Dec. 28, 2013.

The City of Culver City, with assistance from Transition Culver City and Our Time Bank/Repair Cafe, is hosting a Sew-In on Dec. 9, 5:30 – 8 pm in the Don Patacchia room next to the council chambers at CC City Hall.

We will be sewing cloth grocery bags and teaching how to sew your own. The fabric will be pre-cut and ready to assemble with instructions available… a very easy-to-make design.

WHY is this a rare opportunity? Because in efforts to walk the talk on our over-use of fossil fuels, Rob has not taken an airplane to any of his appearances since 2006, choosing instead to make long-distance appearances via Skype and pre-recorded talks… which has made a U.S. tour out of reach—until recently. Read “Why I’m marking passing 400 ppm by getting back on an airplane >>

THE BUZZ: Sonali Kolhatkar just interviewed Rob on her show Uprising Radio which can be heard locally on KPFK.Listen to the interview >>

Here’s what the Uprising website had to say about Rob & Transition:

It can be dizzying to think about what it will take to reverse global warming and survive without oil. But a growing movement worldwide suggests that now is a good time to adapt our lifestyles toward self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Pioneering British environmentalist Rob Hopkins has founded the “International Transition Town Movement” through which he promotes what he calls a “transition response” in communities readying themselves for a world without oil and creating a new economy that is based on efficiency and sustainability… MORE >>

Rob is an inspiring speaker, an Akosha fellow, and the subject of a widely circulated TED talk. His Transition Handbook was a worldwide bestseller, and his Transition Companion is a lovely photo-spread intro to global progress. (There are now more than 1,100 Transition groups in 43 countries—and TCC is # 37!)

His latest book The Power of Just Doing Stuff (scroll down for more info) will be available for sale for $15/each at both the Westchester and Pasadena events.

Locally on the Westside, you can join in for a fun afternoon at the “Just Doing Stuff” Festival in Westchester (FREE!) followed by a Panel Discussion in the early evening just across the street from the festival:

If you can’t make Sunday, Rob will also be in Pasadena
Monday October 14 at the “Just Doing Stuff” TALK and FAIR,
10:30am-2:00pm. Throop Unitarian Universalist Church,
300 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101.
Tickets: $10 at the door, or pre-register with Transition US for $5 >>

Excerpt: “Something is stirring. People around the world are deciding that the well-being of their local community and its economy lies with them. They’re people like you.

They’ve had enough, and, rather than waiting for permission, they’re rolling up their sleeves, getting together with friends and neighbours, and doing something about it. Whether they start small or big, they’re finding that just doing stuff can transform their neighbourhoods and their lives.

The Power of Just Doing Stuff argues that this shift represents the seeds of a new economy – the answer to our desperate search for a new way forward – and at its heart is people deciding that change starts with them. Communities worldwide are already modelling a more local economy rooted in place, in well-being, in entrepreneurship and in creativity. And it works.” More info >>

The book will be available for purchase ($15) at the WLA “Just Doing Stuff” Festival & Panel Discussion.

Once upon a time it was tempting to mock the idea of a ‘Transition town’ or even transition itself. Rob Hopkins is a truly original thinker who has not only given that concept meaning but has put it into practice in a way that now influences individuals and communities in many parts of the world. The essential proposition is not only that we have to adapt our way of life to meet the enormous environmental challenges that we face but that it is quite possible – and no less practically to the point – a stimulating and enjoyable process as well. If ever there was an idea whose time has come, this is it. Rob Hopkins’ book is a truly unique piece of work that anyone who cares about our future in this densely populated and threatened world should read. It offers original thought and clear analysis. It also combines realism and hope.”
—Jonathan Dimbleby, UK writer and broadcaster

In true Transition style, our goal was to help re-skill people about baking to encourage more kitchen confidence. And in true experiential learning style (Michelle’s background), the afternoon was hand’s-on and exploratory instead of lecture and demonstration so we all dove in to the process. Some participants shared some baking wisdom and techniques while others had their first try at a rolling pin or an “egg wash” glaze.

Flour from a Coffee Grinder

Pulsing the Food Processor

Wheatberries in the Grain Mill

Hand Cranked Grain Mill

Primitive Mortar & Pestle

THE FLOUR EXPERIMENT: First, we found out that flour doesn’t necessarily have to come in a bag from the store! But can we make flour without the help of electricity? (YES!) Does pie dough HAVE to be made from wheat, or what else works? We experimented with making almond flour with a mortar & pestle (actually a Mexican Molcajete made from volcanic rock), a coffee grinder, and a food processor. Many of us took turns hand-cranking the Country Living Hand Grain Mill, turning wheatberries and whole grain rice into fine soft flours. We also had back-up bags of both wheat & gluten-free flours, including sorghum flour to test different blends for our hand pies.

Next, we mixed & rolled out our various doughs and prepared our apple fillings. Here’s the crew in various phases of production.

Filling the hand pies

Shaping the hand pies

Apple Slicing Crew

Rolling Dough

THE RESULTS: We all learned that basic baking is simple and easy. And also that experimenting is highly recommended! The almond flours were a bit too crumbly for crusts so will require further testing (but will make a great ice cream topping for now!). Some of us added a dab of Marion’s homemade Jalapeno Pepper Relish to the fillings for a tasty kick.

We wrapped up the day with tea and hand pie tasting. There were even a few samples that made it home to loved ones.

All in all, a great afternoon of learning basic kitchen skills, building friendships & community, and celebrating the bounties of life!

The plan is to experiment with grinding our own flour using various nuts and grains, discuss gluten-free baking, and make fun pie fillings from seasonal organic fruits, berries & veggies. Then we’ll roll out our dough and craft & bake our miniature pies. We’ll finish off the afternoon with a High Tea @ 4 pm to celebrate our creations!

BYO: Apron & fillings contribution (there will be some fillings on hand, but you’re invited to bring something creative from home as well.) A donation for materials reimbursement is welcome but not mandatory.

Advance tickets will be available thru fandango.com a week before the screening

What is Fracking?

Our country is in the midst of an unprecedented gas drilling boom brought on by a controversial technology called horizontal hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” into our domestic shale rock formations. Seeking ways to squeeze a yield from ­depleted oil fields, natural gas ­producers all over the country are forcing trapped natural gas up & out via high-pressure injecting millions of gallons of water, sand & toxic chemicals.

FRACKING AWARENESS NIGHT ­includes a screening of Josh Fox’s new 2012 “emergency short” The Sky Is Pink plus his Academy Award-nominated 2010 documentary GasLand, followed by a panel discussion of the issues framed in our local context.

TCC teams up with the Aero Theatre and local groups Sierra Club West L.A. Chapter, Frack-Free Culver City, and Citizens Coalition for a Safe Community plus national non-profit Food & Water Watch to present this informative event.

TCC joins with the non-profit L.A. organization Living Economy Salon to announce this unique Documentary and onscreen Panel Discussion coming to the Pacific Culver Stadium Theatres on Wednesday, July 18th, 2012—part of a nationwide screening in atleast 50 theatres in cities across the United States.

According to the Transition U.S. website, this is an unprecedented opportunity to be a part of a national effort to support local economic initiatives. Due to a wildly successful PBS version, the filmmakers have made a new feature-length version of the documentary & accompanying pre-taped panel discussion that you can be among the first to see.

ABOUT THE FILM: In Fixing the Future, host David Brancaccio of public radio’s Marketplace and NOW on PBS visits people and organizations across America that are attempting a revolution: the reinvention of the American economy. By featuring communities using sustainable and innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity, Fixing the Future inspires hope and renewal in a people overwhelmed by economic collapse.

The film highlights effective, local practices such as: local business alliances, community banking, time banking/hour exchange, worker cooperatives and local currencies.

Following the documentary audiences will enjoy an exclusive onscreen discussion panel featuring luminaries:

Attendees will also be introduced to our community’s local time banking endeavor, Our Time Bank. Founded in 2009, OTB is a member-led group of community members in Culver City, Palms and Mar Vista who use an internet-based indirect bartering system to promote a Sharing Economy.

Living Economy Salon‘s mission is to foster a dialogue and connect people around new innovations in economic models that promise a more fair and abundant economy for all. They put on other fun & informative events . Check them out >>